Protective device for engine lubricating systems



Oct. 16, 1934. R. 1.. WHITE 1,977,464

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ENGINE LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 25, 1952 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1934 PATENT @FFEQE PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR ENGINE LUBRI- CATING SYSTEMS Raymond L. White, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application February 25, 1932, Serial No. 595,144

14 Claims.

' 'The chief object of this invention is to provide the intake of lubrication systems such as for internal combustion engines with a device for stratifying the lubricant in the pan in its circulation so that the sludge and the like is separated from the cleaner oil and is not recirculated and whereby the ice, formed as a result of freezing of the water condensation that is normally present in the crank case of an internal combustion engine to a greater or less degree, is prevented from entering the circulating system and is prevented from clogging of the intake.

This invention in common with the co-pending application, discloses a deflecting baffle such as a plate or partition capable of stratifying the oil for the purpose set forth and which is permanently fixed with relation to the bottom of the oil chamber .01 pan and which is permanently fixed with relation to the oil intake. 1

This application also has in common withthe before mentioned patent the feature that the de fleeting plate has a fixed relationwith reference to a bell, to wit, the peripheral outer edge of the screened bell terminates within the area outline of the stratifying partition and which further has a fixed spaced relation,-that is, terminates above said stratifying plate, and also that. the mouth of the bell is guarded by a screen.

One chief distinguishing feature of the present invention is that all of the parts are stationary with respect to the intake which may or may not be movable. 7

Another and a chief feature of the present invention consists in the provision of an auxiliary or by-pass' channel and preferably of greater cross sectional area than the normal intake area, arranged whereby the auxiliary channel only becomes effective if and when the mouth of the before mentioned bell protected by the before mentioned screen becomes clogged.

Another feature of the invention consists in the formation of the auxiliary intake passage, whereby the same is self cleaning and assists materially in the separation of material otherthan the lubricant from the same and out of the circulatory system when the by-pass passage is functioning as will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims: 39

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a part of the pan of an internal combustion engine, the oil intake of the lubricating system thereof and the device associated therewith, portions of the latter being shown in elevation, some being broken away to show the relationship in greater detail. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows. Figure 3 is an elevational view of a portion of a modified form of the device. Figure 4 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of a still further modifiedform of the device.

In the drawing indicates the bottom of the reservoir, such as an oil pan of an internal combustion engine, such engine including a pump which is connected to the line 11 which terminates in an open end 12, the same constituting an intake of predetermined area. Suitably secured as by press fitting, soldering, welding, or the like, thereto is an outwardly flared tubular member 13 which has a lower face 14, and the same is provided with a plurality of notches 15. These notches or holes have a total area greater than the area of the intake 12, so that there is no restriction in the'intake by reason of the addition of the member 13.

An inverted conical cup 16 has a collar portion 1'? that is suitably secured to the intake pipe 11 and adjacent such anchorage the conical structure is provided with a plurality of openings 18 substantially equal to or slightly greater in total area than the area of the openings and, therefore, equal to or slightly greater respectively than the intake 12. The lower end of the inverted conical cup has suitably secured to it a screen 19 and the lower end or face 14 of the: flared tubular member 13 constitutes a support for the central portion of the screen and prevents collapse of the screen and screen sealing of the notches 15; The oil pump normally associated with line 11 sucks oil through the screen 19 and the oil, after passing intothe cone 16, passes laterally through the openings 15 and into the intake. Of course some of the oil will pass directly through the screen and into the tubular member 13.

In Figure 1 a similar outer and upper frustoconical cup 20 is illustrated and the collar or neck 21 thereof is suitably securedttothe pipe 11. The lower end of the cup is open and the outer 1 0 peripheral edge 22 terminates within the area or peripheral outline 23 of the partition or stratifying plate 24. The latter is herein shown supported by the outer conical cup 20 as by the straps 25, but may be otherwise supported but in fixed relation to said structure. As shown in Figure 1, the slopes of the two cups are parallel. In other words, the central angle of both are equal. This means that there is no angular increase in the conical channel between the twocups 16 and 20 and, therefore, there is an increase in velocity of any liquid that flows between the two as the liquid approaches openings 18.

The oil that is circulated collects in the pan of the engine and as the oil pump creates a suction on the end 12 of the intake pipe 11, the oil passes through the screen, as before mentioned,

until such time as the screen becomes clogged or ice-locked. When this condition occurs or in early operation of the engine when the oil is very cold, the auxiliary passage permits the oil to pass up between the two cones and such fragments of ice or grit carried by the oil that might possibly be carried with the oil gradually settle out along the outer surface of the cup 16 and then discharges downwardly by reason of the slope. The relatively free oil then. passes through the openings 18, into the screened inner chamber and thence through the lateral ports or openings 15 into the intake 12, even though the screen be completely clogged.

Since the annular opening between the two cups is of greater area than the intake 12, the suction on the oil at that opening is less per square inch of opening than normally exerted '.upon the chat the intake 12, and, therefore, the

aforesaid separation upon the outer surface of the cone 16 takes place.

In Figure l, the diameter of the outer cup is greater than the diameter of the inner cup.

In Figure 3, the diameter of the outer cup is substantially the same as the diameter of the inner cup. In thisform of the invention, like and similar parts are indicated by similar numerals of the one hundred series.

In Figure 4, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, wherein like or similar parts are indicated by similar numerals of the two hundred series. In this form of the invention, the central angle of the inner conical cup is greater than the central angle of the outer conical cup. The result of this structure is that there is positive assurance that there will be no restriction in the auxiliary intake passage to defeat the function thereof.

The upper cup may not be of an area equal to the inner cup area, see Figure 3, but, to insure normal circulation throughthe screen when not clogged and not through the bypass, it is desirable to extend the upper cup in addition to extending below level of ports 18, etc., to a point near the end of the inner cup or beyond the same to increase the friction loss in the bypass. This insures normal circulation through screen until suificiently restricted to be greater than bypass friction.

.If desired and as will be evident from Figure 3, the outer conical cup may terminate so that it will have an outer peripheral diameter equal to that of the inner cup although the slope may be such that the central angle is less than that of the central angle of the inner cup. In any event, with any form of the invention illustrated inFigures 1, 3 and 4 and as last mentioned, the stratifying plates 24, 124 and 224 respectively,

each have a peripheral outline greater than any one of the cups. It Will, of course, be understood that the oil level normally lies above the uppermost lower end of the cups if the ends are at different levels and in all of the forms of the invention illustrated, the outer cup does not extend below the inner cup. However, in certain forms, the outer cup may extend below the level of the inner cup.

Instead of the frusto-conical constructions illustrated, the cups may be bell shaped without departing from the invention. Such bell formation is shown in the before mentioned application and patent, although in both instances these bells are of a float character and are longitudinally movable relative to the axis of the bell. The conical shape, however, is preferred, because it establishes maximum seal against air passing into the circulating system when the oil is sluggish due to low temperatures or when the oil level becomes very low.

In certain instances, see Figure 3, the device also operates as an air bleeder, that is, when the oil becomes low and there is surging. The mixture of oil and airis sucked into the cone 116 and the oil is sucked laterally into the openings corresponding to openings 15 (see Fig. 1) at the lower end of line 111, while air tends to rise in the cone and escapes through the openings corresponding to openings 18 (see Fig. 1) at the top of cone 116 and passes downwardly between the two cones and outwardly if and when the oil uncovers any portion of the lower edge of the outer bell. Otherwise the air in the bells is trapped therein. In this event, it will be apparent that the upper level of the oil is below the lower end of the outer bell but above the lower level of the inner bell. If the oil falls below the lower level of the inner bell, no oil will be pumped and, of course, the oil pressure gauge will immediately register a lack of circulation which will forthwith warn the operator that the oil supply needs replenishing.

If it be assumed there be no oil in the crank case and then oil is supplied to the crank case to the desired level necessary for engine operation, it will be apparent that the oil, as previously stated, will fill the crank case bottom and rise to a considerable height above the lower end of the bells. There will thus be a hydrostatic pressure created within the bells. The air trapped therein, due to the liquid seal at the bottom of the bells, will gradually be compressed as the oil level rises due to the continued addition of oil to attain the desired final level. When this compression is at'its maximum and the oil level in thecrank case is at its maximum, the oil level in the bells is still above the inlet holes 15 of the intake 12 of the pipe 11. The compressed air, of course, is at the top and within both bells due to the apertures 18 near. the top of the inner bell. Upon the oil pump creating a suction upon the inlet openings 15 and as long as there is no interruption in the flow of the liquid or .oil through the screen, the air locking, before mentioned, will be maintained and this air locking materially resists the tendency, if there be any, in the annular opening between the two bells for the oil to pass between the two bells and enter the inner bell by way of the openings 18.

If the engine is cold, the oil will be quite sluggish and by reason of its sluggishness, it will not rapidly pass through the screen and, therefore, a greater pull will be exerted upon the openings 18 than has theretofore been exerted thereon, since the uniform suction of the pump will tend to relieve itself in this direction. When this condition occurs, if the oil is very sluggish, the pump will first suck out from beneath the bells the compressed air and then will endeavor to suck the oil up between the two bells and through the apertures 18. If the oil remains sluggish for some period, some of the oil might actually pass up between the two bells and through the apertures 18 until the oil becomes fluid enough by reason of engine heating to readily pass through the screen, whereupon further by-passing or partial by-passing will cease and the normal operation of the device will be obtained, to wit, all the oil will pass through the screen to the inlet openings 15. Thus, when the liquid becomes free flowing following the aforesaid condition, the air pocket does not exist.

a While it might be inferred that thereafter due to the absence of the air-lock or air pocket and when normally operating, a part of the oil would continue to flow between the two bells as well as through the screen, such is not the case.

The partition plate 24, it will be recalled, insures that the liquid flows substantially parallel to the plate 24 and then adjacent the intake 12 passes inwardly through the screen. The velocity of flow parallel to the partition plate is sufiicient so that the kinetic energy in the liquid in reality applies a suction on the lower end of the annular opening between the two bells by reason of what might be broadly termed the injector principle, and as the velocity increases, such suction increases and thus there is established, at the lower end of the two bells in the annular opening therebetween, a counteracting influence to the passage of liquid upwardly between the bells, due to any suction force that might be applied to the openings 18. Another reason the liquid will not pass upwardly between the bells is that the liquid flow always takes the shortest distance between two points, providing there is no or less resistance in the shortest path. For that reason, therefore, in normal operation the oil does not pass upwardly between the bells but it passes laterally between the plate and the bells, and then passes directly through the screen to the openings 15.

It is also to be noted that the screen area is many times greater than the area of the annular opening between the ends of the two bells. Furthermore, there is an additional factor that may be present and that is the possibility of fluid friction. There is but little fluid friction imposed upon the oil when it passes through the screen to the intake. Any oil that attempts to rise between the two bells naturally must travel within the channel formed by the surfaces of the two bells and a relatively large friction therebetween is another deterrent factor against fluid passage between the two bells in the normal operation of the device. This fluid friction will naturally vary for the same bells when positioned at different distances apart and it will be noted from the drawing that they are relatively close together. It will also be noted that the area of the space between the inner bell and the stream control or partition plate 24, constitutes a capacity many times in excess of the apertures 18 at the upper portion of the bell. This also is another factor influencing the fluid in insuring directional flow thereof in favor of a straight line flow along and through the screen toward the inlets 15 in the pipe 12.

As before stated, upon the screen becoming clogged so that this relatively free flow is interrupted or there is imposed an increasedresistance to the free flow through said screen, the by-pass arrangement becomes operative. This interrupttion generally is due to the two oausesbefore mentioned, to wit, ice or dirty oil. In the event that ice is the cause, as soon as the oil becomes warm enough, the ice will melt and the flow .will be reestablished through the screen in preference to taking the longer path between the bells. If this increased resistance of passage of the free fluid between the screenv and theintake is due to dirty oil, then the dirty oil will continue to pass through the by-pass and, as'before mentioned, this by-pass arrangement is in effect self cleaning,

due to the change of direction of the oil as it.

Should the screen become what might be termed permanently clogged the engine will receive lubrication in exactly the same amount as if there were no cleaning action except for that previously mentioned, which occurs between the two bells.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an inlet structure for a lubricating system, the combination with a reservoir or the like, and an oil intake terminating thereabove and having the intake spaced above the reservoir bottom, of a pair of spaced inverted nested cups, the inner cup near its upper end being apertured, a screen operatively covering the lower end of the inner cup, said cups terminating adjacent the reservoir bottom, and a deflecting baffle interposed between the scrcen and reservoir bottom and having an outer periphery at least equal to the greatest outer periphery of thecups, said plate including a substantially flat portion adjacent the lowermost cup periphery for straightening the lines of oil flow and eliminating the effect of oil surging upon the reservoir bottom, themtake being normally protected by the screen.

2. In an inlet structure for a lubricating system, the combination with a reservoir or the like, and an oil intake terminating thereabo-ve and having an intake spaced above the reservoir bottom, of a pair of spaced inverted nested cones, the inner cone near its upper end being apertured, a screen operatively covering the lower end of the inner cone, said cups terminating adjacent the reservoir bottom, and a deflecting baflie interposed between the screen and bottom and having an outer .periphery at least equal to the greatest outer periphery of the cones, said plate including a substantially flat portion adjacent and beyond the cup periphery for straightening the lines of oil flow and eliminating the effect of oil surging upon the oil reservoir bottom, the intake being normally protected by the screen.

3. In an inlet structure for a lubricating system, the combination with a reservoir or the like, and an oil intake terminating thereaboveand having an intake spaced above the reservoir bottom, of a pair of spaced inverted nested cones, the inner cone near its upper end being apertured, a screen operatively covering the lower end of the inner cone, said cups terminating adjacent the reservoir bottom, and a deflecting bafiie interposed between the screen and bottom and having an outer periphery at least equal to the greatest outer periphery of the cones, said plate including a substantially flat portion adjacent and beyond the cup periphery for straightening the lines of oil flow and eliminating the effect of oil surging upon the oil reservoir bottom, the intake being normally protected by the screen, the central angle of the inner cone being not less than the central angle of the outer cup.

4. In an inlet structure for a lubricating system, the combination with a reservoir or the like, an oil intake terminating above the reservoir bottom, of a pair of spaced inverted nested cups, the inner cup near its upper end being apertured and surrounding the intake, a screen operatively covering the lower end of the inner cup and operatively screening the intake, said cups terminating adjacent the reservoir bottom, a deflecting baflie interposed between the screen and the reservoir bottom and having an outer periphery at least equal to the greatest outer periphery of the cups, said plate including a substantially flat portion adjacent and beyond the cup periphery for straightening the lines of oil flow and eliminating the effect of oil surging upon the oil reservoir bottom, the depth of the outer cup being suilicient to cover the inner cup aperture portion and also suiricient to provide frictional resistance to bypass circulation sufficient to insure normal circulation through the screen until the screen becomes clogged.

5. The combination with an oil reservoir subject to movement, and an intake substantially transverse to the bottom thereof and including an inlet portion adjacent but spaced from the bottom, of an inverted imperforate cup-like member having its mouth positioned adjacent but in spaced relation to the bottom, a screen operatively covering the mouth of said member, the inlet portion being operatively covered by said screen, said member at its upper portion including an auxiliary inlet, and unobstructed by-pass means communicating with the auxiliary inlet at one end and having its inlet positioned adjacent the lower edge of the member.

6. The combination with an oil reservoir subject to movement, and an intake substantially transverse to the bottom thereof and including an inlet portion adjacent but spaced from the bottom, of an inverted imperforate cup-dike member having its mouth positioned adjacent but in spaced relation to the bottom, a screen operatively covering the mouth of said member, the inlet portion being operatively covered by said screen, said member at its upper portion including an auxiliary inlet, unobstructed by-pass means communicating with the auxiliary inlet at one end. and having its inlet positioned adjacent the lower edge of the member, and an oil flow directing, baiile interposed between the bottom and the intake inlet and spaced from both and having a substantially flat portion adjacent the lower edge of the member and projecting beyond the same for straightening the linesof oil flow to eliminate the eiTect of oil surging upon the reservoir bottom.

'I. In an inlet structure for a-lubricating system, the combination with a reservoir, a deflecting member located at one end in close proximity to the reservoir bottom, said member being substantially parallel to the reservoir bottom, an intake having an inlet adjacent but above the deflecting member, a plurality of imperforate inverted nested cups surrounding the intake the greatest outline of the cups be ng not more than the outline of the deflecting member, the lowermost cup being fixedly positioned relative to the deflecting member, and a screen covering the mouth of the inner cup and operatively covering the intake .inlet, the latter being positioned immediately above and in close proximity to the screen, the innermost cup including anintake near the top, the innermost cup including an unobstructed auxiliary intake near the top, the passage between the cup having sufiicient resistance to oilv flow to normally insure flow through the screen until resistance to oil flow therethrough is greater than the passage resistance.

8. In an inlet structure for a lubricating system, the combination with a reservoir, a deflecting member located at one end in close proximity to the reservoir bottom, said member being substantially parallel to the reservoir bottom, an intake having aninlet adjacent but above the deflecting member, a plurality of inverted imperforate nested cups surrounding the intake, the walls thereof being substantially parallel and the greatest outline being not more than the outline of the deflecting member, the lowermost cup be ing fixedly positioned relative to the deflecting member, a screen covering the mouth of the inner cup and operatively covering the intake inlet, the latter being positioned immediately above and in close proximity to the screen, the inner cup being apertured at a considerable elevation above the inlet in the intake, the passage between the cups having sufficient resistance to oil flow to normally hisure oil flow through the screen until resistance to oilflow therethrough is greater than passage resistance.

9. The combination with a reservoir, of an eduction pipe having its hilet arranged within said reservoir and spaced above the bottom thereof, an inverted cup guarding said inlet with its mouth below the normal level of liquid to be maintained in the reservoir, a screen interposed between the bottom of the reservoir and said cup and inlet, a'valveless passage unobstructed by said screen arranged with its lower end communicating with the interior of the reservoir above its bottom and its upper end communicating with the interior of said cup above the level of said inlet and above the normal operating level of liquid within the cup when the screen is substantially unobstructed, said passage having suflicient resistance to oil flow to normally insure oil flow through the screenuntil resistance to oil flow therethrough is greater than passage resistance.

. 19. The combination with a reservoir, of an eduction pipe-having its inlet arranged with-in said reservoir and spaced above the bottom thereof, an-inverted imperforate cup guarding said inlet with its mouth below the normal level of liquid tov be maintained in the reservoir, a screen interposed between the bottom of the reservoir and said-cup and inlet, a valveless passage unobstructed by said screen arranged with its lower end communicating with the interior of the reservoir above its bottom and its upper end communieating with the interior of said cup above the level of said inlet and above the normal operating level of liquid within the cup when the screen is substantially unobstructed, said passage having. sufiicient resistance to oil flow to normally insure oil flow through the screen until resistance to oil flow therethrough is greater than pass-age resistance, and an imperforate guard plate interposed between said screen and the bottom of the reservoirthroughout the area of said screen and 11. The combination with a reservoir, of an eduction pipe having its inlet arranged within the reservoir and spaced above the bottom thereof, an imperforate inverted cup guarding said inlet with its mouth below the normal level of liquid to be maintained in the reservoir, a second inverted cup nested within and spaced from the first cup, said second cup having its mouth arranged below the normal level of liquid to be maintained in the reservoir and having its lower regions imperforate and its upper interior in communication with the upperlinterior of the first mentioned cup above the level of said inlet, and in free communication with the space between the cups at all times, a screen guarding the mouth of said second cup and interposed between the reservoir bottom and said inlet of the eduction pipe and vertically spaced from said inlet and bottom, and an imperiorate guard plate interposed between the bottom of the reservoir and the mouth of said cups throughout the area of said screen and vertically spaced from said screen and said reservoir bottom but positioned relatively close to the cup periphery to insure oil flow to said cup and therebetween in substantial parallelism to the reservoir bottom.

12. The combination with a reservoir, of an eduction pipe having its inlet arranged within the reservoir and spaced above the bottom thereof, an imperforate inverted cup guarding said inlet with its mouth below the normal level to be maintained in the reservoir, a second inverted cup nested within and spaced from the first cup, said second cup having its mouth arranged below the normal level of liquid to be maintained in the reservoir and having its lower regions imperforate and its upper interior in'communication with the upper interior of the first mentioned cup above the level of said inlet and in free communication with the space between the cups at all times, and a screen guarding the mouth of said second cup and interposed between the reservoir bottom and said inlet of the eduction pipe and vertically spaced from said inlet and bottom.

13. The combination with a reservoir, of an eduction pipe having its inlet arranged within said reservoir and spaced above the bottom thereof, a primary chamber having direct communication with the inlet and a screened downwardly directed intake, and an unscreened secondary passage having its intake at its lower end and its upper end in constant and free and unscreened communication with the chamber, appreciably above the intake thereof.

14. The combination with a reservoir, of an educticn pipe having its inlet arranged within said reservoir and spaced above the bottom thereof, a primary chamber having direct communication with the inlet and a screened downwardly directed intake, an unscreened secondary passage 100 having its intake at its lower end and its upper end in constant and free and unscreened communication with the chamber, appreciably above the intake thereof, and a deflecting plate interposed between the screened intake and reser- 105 voir bottom and projecting laterally beyond intake insuring oil flow toward the inlet in substantial parallelism to the reservoir along the plate immediately adjacent the wall of the chamber.

RAYMOND L. WHITE. 

